Former President Bill Clinton, Alliance for a Healthier Generation honor Boston schools for efforts to combat childhood obesity

BOSTON – Former President Bill Clinton and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation recognized seven Boston Public Schools for transforming themselves into healthier places for students and staff. The Boston schools were among 179 from across the country honored at an awards ceremony in New York City.

To earn this award, the schools created healthy eating and physical activity programs that met or exceeded stringent standards set by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program, which provides free support and technical assistance to more than 9,000 schools nationwide to help them reverse the national trend in childhood obesity. Schools were eligible for Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum National Recognition Awards based on their level of achievement (A complete list of BPS winners and descriptions of their programs is attached).

“The health and wellness of students in the Boston Public Schools is among our top priorities, and we are pleased to see our schools receiving national recognition for their efforts to fight childhood obesity,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Carol R. Johnson. “These awards reflect the results of an innovative collaboration among the schools, central departments, and partner organizations to increase physical activity and promote good nutrition among students.”

Moving students out of classrooms and into neighborhood parks helped The Young Achievers Science and Math Pilot School win the Alliance’s “Silver Award.” Science and math teachers identified green spaces within walking distance of the school, transforming urban forests, farms and gardens into learning opportunities.

The seven BPS winners are as follows:

• Young Achievers Science and Math Pilot School (Mattapan) – Silver Award

• Lilla G. Frederick Pilot Middle School (Dorchester) – Bronze Award

• Nathan Hale Elementary School (Roxbury) – Bronze Award

• Media Communications Technology High School (West Roxbury) – Bronze Award

• Mission Hill School (Roxbury) – Bronze Award

• New Mission High School (Roxbury) – Bronze Award

• Josiah Quincy Elementary School (Chinatown) – Bronze Award

“Schools across the country are working hard to provide healthier environments for students while facing the challenges of decreased budgets and time,” said Ginny Ehrlich, executive director of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. “The successes of these schools confirm that, despite these issues, it is possible to transform a school culture when staff, students and parents lead the charge in making healthy changes.”

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation is founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation. Earlier this year, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation became a Founding Member of the Partnership for a Healthier America, the independent, nonpartisan organization created to support the goals of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Campaign. The Healthy Schools Program is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Any school in the U.S. can enroll and receive free assistance and support to become a healthier place for students to learn and staff to work. Find out more at www.HealthierGeneration.org.

Photo Caption: BPS Alliance for a Healthier Generation award winners

From the back row left: German Lam (Food Coach, Glam Foods), Debra Korzec-Ramirez (BPS Food & Nutrition Services), Betsy Caruso (Mission Hill K-8), Sandy Mitchell-Woods (Hale ES), Cheryl Lane (Media Communications HS), Simon Ho (J. Quincy ES) and Paul McAndrew (Alliance for a Healthier Generation).

Front row left to right: Deb Socia (Frederick MS), Margaret Connors (Young Achievers K-8), Pauline Yee (J. Quincy ES), Lynette Skerritt (New Mission HS).